Means for applying a coated surface to textile tubing



Dec. 4, 1962 .1. FONTAINE 3,065,720

MEANS FOR APPLYING A COATED SURFACE T0 TEXTILE TUBING Filed Jan. 28, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I W

.mcouss ro/vmuvs- ATTORNEYS Dec'. 4, 1962 I J. FONTAINE 3,066,720

MEANS FOR APPLYING A COATED SURFACE T0 TEXTILE TUBING Filed Jan. 28, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JACQUES FO/VTA/NE ATTORNEK? J. FONTAINE Dec. 4, 1962 MEANS FOR APPLYING A COATED SURFACE TO TEXTILE TUBING 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR JACQUES FONTAIIVE Filed Jan. 28, 1959 FIG. .ZZT

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,066,720 MEANS FOR APELYING A CQATED SURFACE T0 TEXTEE TUBING Jacques Fontaine, Paris, France, assigncr to Societe a Responsabilite Limitee dite $terimec, Paris, France Filed Jan. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 789,593 Claims priority, application France .Ian. 31, 1958 12 Claims. (Cl. 156-393) The invention relates to the coating of surfaces, chiefly the surfaces of textile products, with a layer of rubber or of similar substances.

The invention has as its main object the obtaining, by a continuous manufacturing process, of products which, up to now, have called for successive, complex operations, and it is capable of application to the job of coating flat surfaces just as easily as it can be applied to the task of internally or externally coating tubular surfaces.

The invention will first of all be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in the remarks which now follow regarding its application to the manufacture of a hose having a textile sheathing and covered internally and externally with a coating of natural or synthetic rubber. In these drawings:

FIGURE I represents, diagrammatically, the weaving and inner coating stage,

FIGURE II represents, diagrammatically, the outer coating stage,

FIGURE III represents, diagrammatically, the dehydration and drying stage during the course of which the vulcanisation process may take place.

In FIGURE 1, reference 1 designates the mandrel on which, by means of a circular loom, the textile sheathing is woven. Of the circular loom the only parts of which are shown, diagrammatically, are the weft bobbins 2 and 3 which are advanced with a circular movement around the axis of the equipment, references 4, 4 and 5, 5' denoting the warp threads which pass alternately above and below the weft bobbins, this movement being synchronised with that of the weft bobbins as is a well known practice on most circular looms.

In this instance, the mandrel 1 is shown as being of slightly conical shape and as being mounted and clamped tight on the frame of the weaving loom, of which frame only one portion is represented at 6. The mandrel is topped by a metal sleeve 7 having the same geometrically vertical axis and an inner diameter almost equal to the mandrels mean diameter.

The sleeve is surrounded externally by collars 8 in which heater resistances are located. The mandrel 1 has an axial passage 9 which, by way of the union 1t) and the flexible piping I1, is connected to a reservoir 12 which, by means of any suitable feeder and regulating system, has the job of maintaining a constant level inside the sleeve 7 and the work 20.

Clamped on the upper portion of the mandrel 1by means of a nut 13 for example, there is a lipped joint 14, the whole assembly being arranged in such a way that the sleeve 7 surrounds the mandrel up to the point where, by virtue of the weaving process, the textile sheathing is formed, and the mandrel penetrates inside the sleeve by a length sufiicient to enable the textile sheathing to be pre-heated before it reaches the lips of the joint 14.

The sleeve 7 is supported by a bracket 15 which is mounted for movement in the vertical direction by means of a screw 16 operated by the electric motor 17 which is equipped with some suitable speed-reduction gear. Represented diagrammatically at 18 and I? are two endof-travel circuit breakers which make it possible to determine the extreme positions of the bracket 15.

In FIGURE I the traction equipment for pulling the work upwards at the rate at which it is woven, is not represented. The equipment works as follows:

The question as to what type of circular weaving loom shall be used is left open; it may in fact be of any type using conventional techniques. Nor does the invention lay down anything concerning the number of warp and weft threads which shall be used or the manner of their interweave, the representation contained in FIGURE I being purely diagrammatic, the equipment as per the invention being evolved precisely so as to be capable of being adapted to the requirements of the speed of runoff in the weaving, the nature of the actual sheathing, and the type of circular loom selected.

The machine is fed, as from the reservoir 12, by a thermo-sensitized latex, preferably pre-vulcanised. This latex comes in by way of the piping 11 and the passagehole 9 inside the sleeve '7, and the textile sheathing designated 2a in the figure. It fills the sleeve up to a level 21, to for example, of the height of the sleeve. The lipped joint 14 prevents the latex from flowing towards the weaving plane and the formation of coagulation which might tend to take the place there as a result of the intensive friction forces set up at that point. On the other hand, the efiicacy of the joint 14- is taken care of, even where the sheathing has a very coarsely grained surface, by virtue of the fact that the sheathing arrives at the level of the lips of the joint in a pro-heated condition, thereby setting off a jellying action immediately. Because of this the pressure of the column of latex in the sleeve is prevented from giving rise to leakages and tricklings towards the outside of the sheathing, even where the weave is a very open one. The temperature of the sleeve is detected at 22 by a thermocouple and suitably regulated so as to allow that part of the latex to jellify which is taken up beyond the level 2-1 by the effect of surface tension as the sheathing as is pulled upward by the traction appliance.

The thickness of the deposit inside the sheathing depends on the speed of traction, the temperature of the sleeve and the height of the level 21, for a latex of fixed composition.

In order to prevent the occurrence of overthicknesses when the machine is stopped voluntarily or accidentally, the heating is not discontinued, since this would in fact not be efiectual because of the thermal inertia of the sleeve, nor would it enable the thickness of the deposit to be controlled when the heating is put on again.

According to the invention, the heating is kept on during periods of stoppage, but an electrical safety device, not represented in the drawings, automatically actuates the motor 17 the moment the weaving loom stops. It is possible, for example, to use a relay which keeps open the circuit supplying the motor 17 for as long as the loom is being supplied with power. By virtue of this fact, and as a result of the rotation of the screw 16, the bracket 15 starts to travel upwards taking with it the sleeve 7. This movement will continue until such time as the bracket encounters the end-of-travel circuit breaker 18 which is located at a level such that the bottom end of the sleeve 7 is well clear of the level 21 in an upwards direction. Due to this device it will be unnecessary to alter the level 21 and to empty the column if the stoppage is only going to be a matter of a moment or two.

Before starting up the circular loom again, the bracket 15 will be brought back down again to its normal position fixed by the end-of-travel circuit breaker 19 which may also be adapted, if so desired, so as to close the feeder circuit of the weaving looms motor as well.

In FIGURE II the reference 34) designates the Sheathing complete with its inner coating as it emerges from a 1-9 the appliances as represented in PEGURE I, it being always assumed that this sheathing is propelled vertically by a traction appliance not represented in this figure.

In FTGURE II, reference 31 designates the housing which contains the bath of latex, this housing being supplied from two infeed pipes 32 and 33 located diametrically opposite each other. The latex is assumed to be supplied from a tank by gravity feed, the tank not being shown in the drawing.

The tightness of the housing 31, on its lower portion, is produced by a device having two lipped joints 34- and 35, between which there is compressed air introduced from the tubing 37. Thanks to this device all leakage downwards which might give rise to coagulation at contact with the joints and with the work 3% is prevented. The housing 31 is integral with a tube 38 made of a substance having a poor heat conductivity and a very smooth surface, such as glass for example. Tightness is ensured by the toroidal joint 39. Around the sleeve 38 is fitted the thermic exchanger 44 the bottom end of which should be separated from the housing 31 by a distance sufficient to prevent, for all practical purposes, any transmission of heat.

This heat exchanger is supplied through the tubings 41 with return by way of the tubing 42, and the exchanging liquid may be water.

For the application of the invention it is essential that the exchanging liquid should arrive at 41 with a strictly constant temperature, the liquid being fed at a speed sufficient to set up, at the base of the exchanger, a turbulent movement, which latter may be assisted by a judicious disposition of the feed pipe or pipes 41. This ensures that, at the bottom of the exchanger, there will be a zone of small height but a practically constant temperature, this temperature not necessarily being the same, depending on the nature of the latex and the thicknesses to be coagulated.

According to the invention, the concentricity of the apparatus represented by the sleeve 33, the exchanger 4d and the housing 31 is not produced by fixity of this apparatus or assemblage, but on the contrary, this assemblage is loosely or floatingly supported on the machine, so that concentricity is effected on the one hand by the pressure of the joints 34, on the work 39 at its entry into the appliance, and, on the other hand, at the outlet end, by the bearing pressure which the sleeve 38 exerts on the solidified outer coating. It is possible, for example, to make do by simply having the apparatus suspended between stops such as those represented at 43 and 44 which support the exchanger 41 by the rim 45 which is integral with the cover 46. The exchanger is maintained integral with the sleeve 38 by any suitable means, represented in this instance by pressure screws such as 47.

It is of advantage for the exchanger to be blanketed. The equipment for regulating and monitoring the temperatures is not represented.

The manner of operation is as follows:

The latex arriving by way of the pipes 32 and 33 fills the housing 31 under the action of the slight pressure supplied by the gravity-feed tank. The latex rises up around and along the work Ed in the sleeve 38. It thus arrives in the heating zone where it is immediately coagulated. From the moment this takes place it becomes as one with the work 3d which, as has been stated, is propelled vertically upwards by the traction appliance, not represented.

The speed of the turbulence of hot water in the ex changer, and the temperature, have been carefully selected so that the change in condition takes place over a very short Zone at an invariable, well-defined temperature. The sliding action of the jellified outer coating against the inner walls of the sleeve 33 is aided by the phenomenon of cyneresis, a phenomenon towards the regularization of which an effort should be made by manipulating the composition of the latex.

In FIGURE III is represented the equipment for dehydration, drying, and it needs be, for vulcanisation, into which the work has to pass as it leaves the equipment as shown in FIGURE II.

In FTGURE III, reference 59 designates the drying' oven in which the pulley 51 of the traction equipment should, preferably, be located. The actual traction equip ment as such has not been represented in the drawing, but it is essential for the invention that the traction should take place with a strictly constant force being exerted on the work 52. To this end therefore, any kind of equipment of current technique for limiting the pull will be used.

The work enters the drying oven via the bottom, and in FIGURE Ill only the top end of the sleeve 38 of FIG- URE TI has been represented.

At the inlet end a device 53 has been provided for receiving, at one end, the cyneresis water and, at the other, the condensation water if the temperature at the drying stoves inlet corresponds to the dew point of the circulation air.

It is possible to promote a more complete evacuation of the water prior to stoving, by fitting a drain joint-not represented-at the outlet end of the sleeve 38.

The work leaves the drying oven at point 54 where tightness is ensured by a lip joint for example; the work is taken up again by the return pulley 55 which directs it towards the winding equipment.

The stoving unit should, preferably, be located inside the drying stove 50 and separated from the latter by an inclosed chamber 56. The walls of the drying stove and of the enclosed space 56 should, preferably, be heat insulated.

Since the air circulation takes place in a direction the reverse of that at which the work is circulated, the air enters the enclosed chamber 56 through the opening 57 and leaves via the opening 58.

Inside the enclosed chamber 56 there are two circuits controlled by the electro-valves 59 and 60 which enable the circulation to be directed towards the one or the other of these circuits.

These circuits contain, respectively, the ventilating fans 61 and 62 powered by the motor 63 which is common to both. These fans send the air respectively into the compartments 64, 65 which contain alumina, preferably activated, and in the form of small balls. In these compartments are located, respectively, heating batteries 66 and 67, heated electrically for example.

The hydrometric state of the air is checked as it enters the enclosed space 56 by the higrometer 6S, and, as it leaves, by the hygrometer 69. Similarly, the temperatures at entry into and exit out of the drying oven 50 are checked by the thermometers 70 and 7i.

The manner of operation is as follows:

In the layout as per the drawing and the valves being in the position shown diagrammatically, the humid air is sucked through the opening 57 by the fan 62 which causes it to pass through the layer of alumina in compartment 64.- where it is dehydrated with a considerable lowering of its temperature. The air is then re-heated by the battery 66 and it arrives dry and warm in the drying oven 50 by way of the opening 58.

During this time, in the compartment 65 which is out of circuit, the alumina is located which had been saturated during the immediately preceding stage. The fan 61 sets up in this compartment a turbulent movement of air while the lumina is being regenerated, the latter being re-heated by the battery 67.

Provision is made for a slight diversion of the humid air towards the outside of the electrovalves 59 and 64 so as to reverse the hydration and dehydration cycles of the two circuits.

The invention which has just been described comprises four stages providing a continuous and non-stop method of manufacture from the weaving to the finished product.

But it is obvious that the weaving stage could be omitted, the ensemble of the last three stages being capable of being applied to a pro-fabricated sheathing.

Similarly, it is possible to omit the stage which corresponds to the inner coating or the stage which corresponds to the outer coating.

The stoving stage, with the improvements and new features which it includes, could also be applied to a sheathing which has been given an inner and/ or outer coating by a method other than the one described.

Finally, the method may be applied to the coating of flat surfaces, either by longitudinally splitting a tubular surface produced as per the invention, or by directly coating a fiat textile surface.

In the latter case, the equipment as per FIGURE I will be used, With a sleeve having a rectangular cross section instead of a sleeve of circular cross section, and with lip-joints of a corresponding shape.

I claim:

1. In a machine for lining tubular fabrics with rubber or the like, a vertical elongated sleeve, means for continuously pulling said tubular fabric through said sleeve, means for continuously supplying said sleeve with a lining compound in liquid form at a feeding level near the lower end of said sleeve, and means to maintain said sleeve filled with said lining compound up to a fixed level spaced above said feeding level to form a column of said liquid presenting a free surface within said tubular fabric within said tube, whereby the static pressure caused by said liquid column provides at least an intimate internal coating of said tubular fabric, and the lining is formed by the dragging of said lining compound from said free surface level upwards on the face of the tubular fabric as the tubular fabric moves upwardly.

2. In a machine for constructing and lining a tubular fabric, a circular loom, a vertical hollow mandrel open at its upper end, means for interweaving warp threads and weft threads about the mandrel to form a fabric tube, a vertical sleeve having an internal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the tubular fabric, means for continuously pulling the tubular fabric through said sleeve means to introduce a liquid latex compound through said mandrel up to a fixed level above said mandrel to form a free surface of latex within said fabric tube whereby said compound is continuously supplied to said fabric tube, whereby said tubular fabric is maintained pressed on the inner surface of the sleeve by the static pressure developed by the liquid latex filling the tubular fabric, and means to solidify said compound adhering to said fabric tube as it is pulled through said vertical sleeve.

3. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, the provision of heating means disposed to promote the solidification of said compound substantially above said fixed level.

4. In a machine as set forth in claim 2, having a lipped joint mounted on said mandrel and disposed to press against the inner surface of the tubular fabric, whereby the liquid tightness is insured at the bottom of the sleeve.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 4, in which the mandrel is of truncated cone shape.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 2, in which means are provided to lift the sleeve upon failure of operation of said loom, whereby the sleeve may be cleared of the liquid latex compound.

7. The machine as described in claim 2, further including a drying oven through which said tubular fabric is continuously pulled after it has been pulled through said sleeve.

8. The machine as described in claim 7, in which said drying oven is of inverted U-shape and. in which an air circulating means including air heating and air drying means is mounted between the arms of said inverted U- shaped oven to provide counterflow dry hot air in said oven.

9. In a machine for covering a tubular fabric with an external layer of a rubber or rubber-like substance, the combination of a vertical elongated sleeve the internal diameter of which is greater than the external diameter of the tubular fabric to determine the external diameter of the external layer, means for continuously pulling the tubular fabric through said sleeve, means for continuously supplying said sleeve at a supply level near its lower end with said rubber-like substance in liquid form, and heating means to promote the solidification of said rubber-like substance within said sleeve above said supply level.

10. In a machine as set forth in claim 9, including the provision of a container on which said sleeve is tightly mounted, and means to supply said substance under pressure into said container, whereby said substance is continuously supplied in said sleeve in the annular space formed between said tubular fabric and said sleeve.

11. A machine as set forth in claim 9, in which said elongated sleeve, said means for continuously supplying latex and said heating means form an assemblage supported floatingly against movement.

12. A machine for covering one surface of a fabric tube with rubber or rubber-like substance, comprising a vertical sleeve, means for continuously pulling said fabric tube through said sleeve, means for supplying said sleeve with a rubber compound in liquid form and to maintain a constant liquid free surface level in said sleeve to provide a constant pressure against the side of said fabric tube to be coated whereby said fabric tube is coated with liquid rubber compound, and means to cause solidification of said rubber compound coating said fabric tube within said sleeve as said fabric tube is pulled through said sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,576,906 Greve Mar. 16, 1926 1,949,476 Kennedy Mar. 6, 1934 1,958,193 Kennedy May 8, 1934 2,608,720 Meissner Sept. 2, 1952 2,709,453 Balis May 31, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 473,511 Great Britain Oct. 14, 1937 496,691 Great Britain Dec. 5, 1938 

